Highly efficient tandem polymer photovoltaic cells

Abstract

A tandem polymer photovoltaic device includes a first bulk hetero-junction polymer semiconductor layer, a second bulk hetero-junction polymer semiconductor layer spaced apart from the first bulk hetero-junction polymer semiconductor layer, and a metal-semiconductor layer between and in contact with the first and second bulk hetero junction polymer semiconductor layers. The first and second bulk hetero-junction polymer semiconductor layers have complementary photon absorption spectra.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND FEDERAL FUNDING[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 221,404, filed Jun. 29, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.[0002]This invention was made with Government support of Grant No. N00014-04-1-0434, awarded by the Office of Naval Research and Grant No. FA9550-07-1-0264, awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The Government has certain rights in this invention.BACKGROUND[0003]1. Field of Invention[0004]Embodiments of this invention relate to photovoltaic cells and methods of producing photovoltaic cells, and more particularly to highly efficient tandem polymer photovoltaic cells and methods of production.[0005]2. Discussion of Related Art[0006]The contents of all references referred to herein, including articles, published patent applications and patents are hereby incorporated by reference.[0007]Photovoltaic (PV) cells, also known as solar cells, ge...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, efficient crystalline-based devices, especially of large surface area, are difficult and expensive to produce due to the problems inherent in producing large crystals without significant efficiency-degrading defects.

On the other hand, high efficiency amorphous silicon devices still suffer from problems with stability.

The maximum total power generated by a PV device is inherently incapable of exceeding the product ISC×VOC.

Either of these outcomes is undesirable in a PV device.

The result is that device configuration predictions from donor / acceptor criteria may not be borne out by actual device performance.

However, the function of the interlayer that joins the two sub-cells in a tandem cell has not been well understood even though it is important in achieving high efficiency.

However, narrow absorption ranges of the donor polymers leaves major portions of the solar spectrum unused.

However, since then there has been little major progress made in further improving polymer tandem cells, mainly due to the complicated processing required and the lack of understanding of the working mechanism in such a dual-BHJ system.

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